The good news SCBBC doesn't want you to see

Iraqi education undergoes world of difference from Pittsburgh Live

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- "For 35 years, my people were blind."
Zein Abeddine Al Sadi, general manager of one of Baghdad's educational directorates, covers his eyes with his left hand for emphasis. "Nothing new came to my country."

A year after Saddam fell, Al Sadi ticks off the changes to the 640 schools that he oversees.

Cultural and civics books praising the dictator have been removed from the curriculum, he says. Pages with Saddam's photos and quotations are being ripped from textbooks.

Teacher salaries, once as low as $2.50 a month, now range from $100 to $300. The new pay scales allow teachers to spend more class time with students, rather than tutor them privately at night for a fee.

Hussein Majeed Al Najar, a former teacher who works for Al Sadi, says the old regime "found teachers who would get students to join Ashbal Saddam," a youth-paramilitary group. "Now, we can focus on education."

Since last April, American soldiers have helped to refurbish 80 percent of the schools under Al Sadi's control. Plans are in place to fix the remainder.

Meanwhile, students and teachers are learning to cope with their new freedom of speech and growing interaction with the outside world -- both forbidden by Saddam.


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Iraqi Olympians pin hopes on winning gold medal from News First

"It's a great opportunity for the USOC and for our country to have an event and a partnership that creates good will between the countries of Iraq and the U.S., " said Jim Scherr of the USOC.

Now, the Iraqi team is scheduled to work out along with the U.S. team.

But the Iraqis face a tough road in their pursuit of Olympic gold.They have not yet qualified to compete in the Olympics.

The wrestlers are relying on gaining a wildcard sport from the International Wrestling Federation to get into the Games


Why not give the Iraqi's a free pass to the Olympics this time. That would really help them and be a tremendous gesture of good will by the world.